War and Peace

Chapter XV 

Between three and four o’clock in the afternoon Prince 

Andrew, who had persisted in his request to Kutuzov, 

arrived at Grunth and reported himself to Bagration. 

Bonaparte’s adjutant had not yet reached Murat’s 

detachment and the battle had not yet begun. In 

Bagration’s detachment no one knew anything of the 

general position of affairs. They talked of peace but did 

not believe in its possibility; others talked of a battle but 

also disbelieved in the nearness of an engagement. 

Bagration, knowing Bolkonski to be a favorite and trusted 

adjutant, received him with distinction and special marks 

of favor, explaining to him that there would probably be 

an engagement that day or the next, and giving him full 

liberty to remain with him during the battle or to join the 

rearguard and have an eye on the order of retreat, ‘which 

is also very important.’ 

‘However, there will hardly be an engagement today,’ 

said Bagration as if to reassure Prince Andrew. 

‘If he is one of the ordinary little staff dandies sent to 

earn a medal he can get his reward just as well in the 

rearguard, but if he wishes to stay with me, let him... he’ll 

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be of use here if he’s a brave officer,’ thought Bagration. 

Prince Andrew, without replying, asked the prince’s 

permission to ride round the position to see the 

disposition of the forces, so as to know his bearings 

should he be sent to execute an order. The officer on duty, 

a handsome, elegantly dressed man with a diamond ring 

on his forefinger, who was fond of speaking French 

though he spoke it badly, offered to conduct Prince 

Andrew. 

On all sides they saw rain-soaked officers with 

dejected faces who seemed to be seeking something, and 

soldiers dragging doors, benches, and fencing from the 

village. 

‘There now, Prince! We can’t stop those fellows,’ said 

the staff officer pointing to the soldiers. ‘The officers 

don’t keep them in hand. And there,’ he pointed to a 

sutler’s tent, ‘they crowd in and sit. This morning I turned 

them all out and now look, it’s full again. I must go there, 

Prince, and scare them a bit. It won’t take a moment.’ 

‘Yes, let’s go in and I will get myself a roll and some 

cheese,’ said Prince Andrew who had not yet had time to 

eat anything. 

‘Why didn’t you mention it, Prince? I would have 

offered you something.’ 

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They dismounted and entered the tent. Several officers, 

with flushed and weary faces, were sitting at the table 

eating and drinking. 

‘Now what does this mean, gentlemen?’ said the staff 

officer, in the reproachful tone of a man who has repeated 

the same thing more than once. ‘You know it won’t do to 

leave your posts like this. The prince gave orders that no 

one should leave his post. Now you, Captain,’ and he 

turned to a thin, dirty little artillery officer who without 

his boots (he had given them to the canteen keeper to 

dry), in only his stockings, rose when they entered, 

smiling not altogether comfortably. 

‘Well, aren’t you ashamed of yourself, Captain 

Tushin?’ he continued. ‘One would think that as an 

artillery officer you would set a good example, yet here 

you are without your boots! The alarm will be sounded 

and you’ll be in a pretty position without your boots!’ 

(The staff officer smiled.) ‘Kindly return to your posts, 

gentlemen, all of you, all!’ he added in a tone of 

command. 

Prince Andrew smiled involuntarily as he looked at the 

artillery officer Tushin, who silent and smiling, shifting 

from one stockinged foot to the other, glanced inquiringly 

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